Key Takeaways from DattoConNOW 2021

13th October 2021. Managed service providers from around the world eagerly tuned in to DattoConNOW 2021 from their homes and offices; from PCs, laptops and all manner of devices. We in Datapac were proud to attend this event hosted by Datto’s worldwide team of product and technical experts. There was a palpable sense of anticipation here in Datapac as the clock ticked closer to the opening keynote address. As one of the largest and longest serving Datto partners in Ireland, Datapac have attended numerous DattoCons throughout the years and we knew full well to expect to learn of many new and exciting Datto portfolio developments. Indeed, as a partner representative on Datto’s partner advisory board, we were proud to have played our own part in contributing to this global meeting of the minds.

From the get-go, a presentation from Ryan Weeks, Datto CISO, reassured all in attendance through strong reiteration of the tireless work carried out by Datto’s security development team. As an MSP, it always offers piece of mind knowing that the services we offer to our customers are underpinned by the support and technical prowess of the advanced levels of security at the vendor level. Here are a few of the key takeaways from the show that we would like to share with you.

• The importance of staying ahead of the curve in relation to cybersecurity. If 2021 has taught us anything, it’s the fact that cybercriminals aren’t going anywhere. They continue to grow and develop more ingenious methods to infiltrate networks and hack your data. In Ireland, this was brought into stark contrast with the infamous HSE ransomware attack.

“To be ahead of the game is crucial and provides us with the opportunity to secure the services that we’re offering” – John Roland, Director of Software Engineering, Datto.

• Datto continually highlighted the importance of preparedness and ongoing readiness for a future where hybrid working remains the norm for many organisations.

• Datto and their partners commended the actions of MSPs globally throughout the pandemic. As an provider who worked tirelessly to provide vital services and solutions to our customers, including blue light and public sector organisations, we were proud and truly humbled to see Datto acknowledge the important role that providers such as Datapac played as “cybersecurity first responders”. The efforts of MSPs enabled commerce to continue to flow in the face of unprecedented adversity. In particular, the value of the support brought to the table by providers such as Datapac to small and medium enterprises as they engaged in their necessary rapid digital transformations was noted.

“Small and Medium enterprises have undergone some of the largest transformations and most don’t have the skills in-house to provide

comprehensive security for their IT infrastructure” –David Totten, Microsoft’s CTO of Global Partner Solutions U.S.

• Datto CEO Tim Weller discussed the ongoing expansion from Datto’s appliance-based heritage into cloud-based solutions. The acceleration of this expansion was brought about in no small part by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw an explosion in remote working requirements. We in Datapac have been able to leverage Datto’s rapid response to the swing in market demand to work with and provide our customers with the necessary direct-to-cloud continuity solutions. Weller noted however that their industry leading suite of appliances aren’t going anywhere; Datto continues to remain committed to on-premises hardware

• As with every Dattocon, the stellar cybersecurity products and services on offer from Datto were the real stars of the show. It was great to see the new developments in existing industry leading mainstays such as Datto SIRIS and Datto SaaS protection. Numerous new and exciting portfolio entries were unveiled at the convention. We were one of the few partners selected to participate in the alpha and beta phases of Datto Continuity for Azure through the product development cycle. Having witnessed first-hand the robustness of the process it was extremely gratifying to see the market announcement of the finished product.

To find out more about building cyber resilience for your organization through the suit of Datto products complete the contact form below for a no obligation call back from a member of our cybersecurity team.